Another Side of Life in Panama’s Most Beautiful Bay
El Otro Lado is inside a slice of the Caribbean that's been raved about since the days of Columbus.
Located on the Caribbean coast about an hour and a half outside of Panama City, El Otro Lado is a remote resort surrounded by jungle and sea. The name El Otro Lado means “the other side” in English, which has both a literal and figurative meaning. The luxurious retreat is just across from the sleepy town of Portobelo on the other side of the bay, but it also offers guests the chance to experience another side of life. Not only through the exclusive villas and slowed-down pace, but also workshops that preserve and promote local traditions.
El Otro Lado is fully within Portobelo National Park, an area that was supposedly named by Christopher Columbus. The story goes that the explorer discovered it after his ship was damaged in a fateful storm. He was so touched by the beauty of this safe haven that he named it Puerto Bello, meaning “Beautiful Port.”
His review was heard loud and clear. Within a century, Portobelo grew into one of the most important silver ports of the New World and fortifications were built to protect the port’s treasures from pirate attacks. Today, their crumbling remains offer a historical side to the area’s enduring natural splendor.
El Otro Lado collaborates on various projects with the Portobelo Bay Foundation to support the local community, such as the music program La Escuelita del Ritmo. The entire community, regardless of background, can nurture their creative side by taking part in music and art classes. Another project is the carpentry workshop on El Otro Lado’s premises, which preserves the tradition of local woodcarving.
Guests are encouraged and invited to get involved, with the mutual benefit of supporting the foundation and also taking part in these immersive experiences.
Ask our travel experts to start planning your trip to this tiny slice of paradise.
Cover Image: Stefan Neumann/Shutterstock.com. Image 1, 7 & 8: Jose Gegundez. Image 2: Stefan Neumann/Shutterstock. Image 3: SL-Photography/Shutterstock. Image 4: Marek Poplawski/Shutterstock. Image 5: Matyas Rehak/Shutterstock. Image 6: Rob Crandall/Shutterstock. Image 9: Eduardo Boyd/Shutterstock.
Jurriaan Teulings
Jurriaan dreamt of becoming an astronomer or a circus clown but got a law degree before settling on travel writing and photography instead. As such, he spent two decades spreading the gospel of Dutch stroopwafels across 100 countries, picking up awards of plexiglass, bronze, and beads along the way. Recently, he planted the first rainbow flag on the North Pole. Next stop: Antarctica.